Find Booking Releases in Kent County

Kent County booking releases are processed by the Kent County Sheriff's Office in Grand Rapids. The Sheriff's Office runs the only nationally ACA-accredited adult county jail in Michigan and provides online access to inmate records, including booking data, charge information, bond amounts, and release dates. This page explains how to search Kent County booking releases, submit records requests, and find related state inmate information.

Kent County Sheriff's Office

The Kent County Sheriff's Office manages the county jail and handles all booking releases for the area. The main website is at kentcountymi.gov/Sheriff. The Corrections Division at kentcountymi.gov/957/Corrections oversees jail operations, inmate services, and public access to booking data. The facility stands out across Michigan for its professional standards and national accreditation.

The Kent County Correctional Facility is the only adult county jail in Michigan that has earned national accreditation through the American Corrections Association (ACA). This distinction reflects professional management, consistent policies, and high standards for inmate treatment and recordkeeping. It also means that booking release records are maintained in an organized and accessible way. For the public, this makes finding information on Kent County booking releases more straightforward than at many other county jails in the state.

The Sheriff's Office is located at 4191 17 Mile Rd NE in Cedar Springs, MI 49319. This is where the main corrections facility and administrative offices are located, including the Records Unit.

The Kent County Sheriff's website shown here is the main entry point for booking release records, inmate search, and records requests.

Kent County Booking Releases: Inmate Lookup

The Kent County inmate lookup is available free of charge at kentcountymi.gov/1280/Inmate-Lookup. The tool lets you search for anyone currently held in the Kent County Correctional Facility. Search results include the inmate's name, current charges, bond amount, and scheduled release date if one has been set. Housing location is also listed for confirmed inmates.

The inmate lookup updates regularly throughout the day. New bookings appear in the system once they have been processed. If you search for someone and they do not appear, try again later or contact the jail directly to confirm whether they are in custody. Bond information shown in the system reflects what the court set at arraignment or booking.

Kent County Corrections Division

The Corrections Division at kentcountymi.gov/957/Corrections operates the jail and provides information about inmate services, visitation, and booking procedures.

The Corrections Division page covers what you need to know about the facility, including visitation policies, commissary services, inmate phone access, and how the booking process works from intake to release. The ACA accreditation means all of these processes are reviewed against national standards on a regular basis. Families and attorneys will find consistent and well-documented procedures here.

Records Unit: Requesting Kent County Booking Records

The Kent County Sheriff's Information Services Unit maintains all criminal records for the department and handles FOIA requests. This unit is responsible for incident reports, accident reports, and booking releases. Appointment scheduling is available online for records requests that require an in-person visit.

The Records Unit has specific operating hours: Monday, Thursday, and Friday from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM. It is closed Tuesday and Wednesday. Phone number for the Records Unit is (616) 632-6020. If you need a record and the unit is closed, you can still submit a written FOIA request at any time. Your request will be processed during the next available window.

The records request page at kentcountymi.gov/1343/Records explains the process in detail. You can find the forms and instructions needed to request Kent County booking release records, arrest reports, and related documents through this page. Submitting a complete and specific request speeds up the turnaround time significantly.

FOIA and Public Access to Booking Releases

Michigan's Freedom of Information Act at MCL 15.231 is the legal basis for requesting booking release records from Kent County. The statute states that all persons, except those incarcerated in correctional facilities, are entitled to full and complete information about government affairs. This applies to booking records held by the Kent County Sheriff's Office. The standard response time is 5 business days, with a possible 10-business-day extension for complex requests.

To request records, submit a written request to the FOIA Coordinator at the Sheriff's Office. Include your name, contact information, and a clear description of the records you need. For booking releases, provide the person's full name, approximate date, and any other details you have. The 1983 case Evening News Association v. City of Troy confirmed that police records, including booking documents, are generally public unless a specific exemption applies under MCL 15.243.

FOIA fees are charged for labor and duplication costs. For basic booking records requests, costs are usually modest. If your income is limited, an Affidavit of Indigency may reduce fees by up to $20 per request, with a maximum of two discounts per year.

Note: Records Unit hours are Monday, Thursday, and Friday, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Plan your in-person visits or calls around this schedule.

State Records and Additional Resources

Kent County booking releases cover local jail inmates. For people serving state prison sentences or under MDOC parole or probation supervision, check the OTIS system run by the Michigan Department of Corrections. OTIS is free, searches by last name or MDOC number, and covers current prisoners, parolees, probationers, and people discharged within the last three years. County jail inmates are not in OTIS.

For broader criminal history information, the Michigan State Police Internet Criminal History Access Tool at michigan.gov/msp/services/ichat shows felony convictions and serious misdemeanors reported from all 83 counties. ICHAT requires a full name and date of birth and charges a small fee. It does not include arrests that did not result in conviction, juvenile records, or current county jail booking data.

Victims and concerned parties can register for custody change alerts through VINELink. This free service sends notifications by phone, email, or text when an inmate's status changes. It covers Kent County jail and state MDOC facilities. You can track multiple cases and receive alerts at any hour.

Cities in Kent County

Kent County includes Grand Rapids and Wyoming. Booking releases for arrests made in these cities are processed through the Kent County Sheriff's Office and Correctional Facility.

Nearby Counties

Kent County borders several Michigan counties. Each has its own sheriff's office and booking release system for local jail inmates.